Radford, Thomas Smith

Thomas Smith Radford was born on the 7th March 1895 in Eggington. He was the son of Walter and Mary Smith who according to the 1901 census were living at 80 Derby Road, Long Eaton. His mother Mary was widowed by 1911and the census states that she was a manager of what looks like a stud farm at Markeaton Stones.
Thomas at some point immigrated to New Zealand where he married and was living at Clive in Hawkes Bay. His occupation was that of a farmer and he was working for a Mr George Beamish. He also got married and according to his next of kin details, his wife was Mrs T S Radford.
He joined the New Zealand army in 1915. He seems to have had a very varied army career. He started in the Military Police being promoted to sergeant on the 5th May 1916. At his request on the 28th July 1916 he was reduced in the ranks to corporal. He was transferred on the 23rd October 1916 to the Imperial Camel Corp as a Trooper, promoted again to Lance-corporal on the 8th November 1916 and then shipped out to Egypt. He returned to New Zealand on the 30th June 1919.
He died on the 3rd May 1965 aged 75 years.

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